Those who take an interest in Church music, particularly in relation to Chinese Christian churches, will be attracted by a notable little publication issued by the Tousewe Press. Under the title, "Vingt Cantiques sur Textes Chinois," the Rev. Joseph van Cost has produced a remarkable collection of 20 hymns, including two Christmas carols and a canticle for Passiontide, in the mandarin dialect and for the special use of the native church. The literary text, which is excellent, is the work of a skilled Chinese priest and scholar; but the melodies and their harmonizing undoubtedly form the most interesting feature of the work. This music, for which the Rev. Van Cost is responsible, constitutes quite a new venture in Chinese Christian hymnology, and should be a most successful one. In the past, it has been presumed that an western tune becomes suitable for native use simply by the substition of Chinese words for the foreign text, but quite rightly the present author has considered that this easy way of dealing with the problem of church music in China was no solution at all. During many years of missionary work among the Mongol tribes and Chinese settlers of northwest inner Mongolia, he made a special study of the quaint songs of these interesting folk and upon the basis of the original musical notes then gathered he has written the music for the new hymnology. The work should meet with a cordial reception. Copies may be obtained from of the American, British and the Procure of the Belgian Missions, Chinese Associations on behalf of at the modest price of 25 cents.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.